Dr. Jack Beckman has spent over 40 years under the regulus and patterns of teaching and learning – initially as an Early Childhood educator in the classroom, then as an educational leader, and finally as Professor of Elementary Education at Covenant College.
His present work at Covenant College moves him to the other side of the teacher’s desk, working with preservice elementary teachers. From freshman year Christian Mind through senior Fall Block and student teaching, Dr. Beckman witnesses the progression of growth in their identity from students to full instructional practitioners ready for the classroom. These dedicated teachers are God’s “faithful presence” in a world filled with many diverse needs.
Dr. Beckman is on the Board of Directors for the Charlotte Mason Institute, an organization working toward making her ideas and practices relevant in the 21st century. He is also a Research Fellow at the University of Cumbria, UK, where he works with a team of colleagues to develop a research agenda on the life and work of Charlotte Mason—the University of Cumbria is the former Charlotte Mason College, the site of teacher training for her distinctive model of pedagogy. The team is part of a vision to rekindle Mason’s legacy in the UK.
An avid reader and writer, Dr. Beckman is one of the authors of When Children Love to Learn, as well as several articles on early childhood education and learning, including “‘Faithful Presence’ – The Christian school head, personhood, relationships, and outcomes,” in Journal of School Choice, and “‘Faithful presence’ – Dissonance and distinctive in the work of the school head,” in Christian Educators Journal.